Life-boat-launching device.



No. 701,009. I Patented ma '27, I902. J. w. BEDFORD LIFE BOAT LAUNGHING DEVICE.

(Application flled Oct. 10, 1901.) (No Model.)

UNlTlED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. BEDFORD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LIFE-BOA T-LAUNCH'ING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed October 10,1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES W. BEDFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Life-Boat-Launching Devices; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for launching life-boats from the side of a ship, and is intended to take the place of the ordinary davits now in use. Its object is primarily to provide an apparatus by which the boats may be more quickly launched than is possible by any of the present well-known means and which apparatus can be easily unshipped, so as not to be interfered with or fouled, as by other vessels coming alongside.

My invention consists of horizontal tracks suitably supported and generally disposed athwartships, said tracks or Ways having hinged sections adapted to project beyond the sides of the ship, means by which those sections may be folded back upon the main track when not in use, pivoted frames carried by the main-track supports by which these sections are supported, trolley-sheaves upon the track and upon the section, and a shiftinglever swiveled upon the track-sheaves, whereby a boat may be engaged and moved along the track.

Italso comprises details which will be more fully set forth hereinafter, having reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure represents the device applied to a ships deck.

A represents, for example, a ships deck, having the house 2, upon which the boats such as are not ordinarily in the davits are stored. Suitably supported above the house and the rail of the ship, so as not tolinterfere with the deck-passage, are disposed the two trackrails 4, which extend from one side of the ship to the other, but are of such length that their ends will not project beyond the ships sides. The overhead space between the framework 3 and the house may be bridged over, if desired, so as to form a support for extra boats and to give a passage-Way for the operators to move back and forth upon when launching a boat. Upon the ends of the Patent No. 701,009, dated May 27, 1902.

Serial No. 78,191. (No model.)

track-rails are hinged the short sections 5. When ready for action, these sections are adapted to extend beyond the ships sides, so that a boat suspended at their outer ends may be lowered into the water and just clear the ship, while they are intended when not in use to be folded back upon the track, and so present no projection that can possibly be fouled, as by another ship coming alongside. The movement of these sections is effected as follows: Upon the support 3 are hinged the A-frames 6, which are adapted to fold back on their pivots 7 with the sections 5. If desired, a single frame could be substituted for the A-frames. A cable 8, suitably secured at one end, as 9, has its other end fixed to the top of each A-frame, while a shorter cable or connection 10 unites the top of the frame and the end of the section. This section end is provided with a stop or bail 11, and the connection 10 is secured therein. The ends of the sections are prevented from any sidewise displacement by means of the rod or brace 12, which is pivoted at either end, as 13, so as to be turnable with the sections.

Intermediate of the ends of the main track are the trolley-sheaves 14, and each of the latter carries a shifting-lever 15. This lever is made with a short hook-arm 16,'which is adapted to engage a link or loop 24:, secured to either end of one of the boats B, that may be stored on the ships house. The rails 4 are presumed to be separated a distance equal approximately to the length of a lifeboat, so that one of these boats maybe engaged at either endby the levers, as above described. The lever has aswiveled fulcrum connection 17, so as to be turnable in any direction, whereby a boat can be moved to either side of the ship. The other end of one of these levers is of such length as to give the necessary leverage for the operator to move a boat with ease.

Upon the short track-sections 5 are trolleysheaves 18. A hoisting-tackle 19 is suspended from each of these sheaves, and one end 20 of the rope of this tackle is made fast to the outer end of the track-section. The other sections 21 of the tackle-ropes pass through pulleys 22 on the supports 3 and may be secured to cleats 23 within convenient reach of the operators.

In operation the process of launching a boat B is as follows, presuming the track-sections 5 to stand extended in line with the main track: The trolleys 14 are moved to be directly over either end of one of the boats to be launched. The boats are lifted from their supports by engaging the hook-arm of the lever 15 in the links 24 and exertinga downward movement on the other end of the lever. The boat is then moved along beneath the tracks 4 until the sheave encounters the cross-beam of the frame 3. The hook 25 on the lower block of the tackle is then engaged in the eyebolt to whichthe link 24is secured, the hook of the lever is disengaged, and the boat hangs suspended by the tackles 19. The rope-sections 21 are released from their fastening, and the boat is lowered into the water. By reason of the ends 20 of the tackleropes being fast to the outer ends of the sections 5 the trolleys 18 move outward immediately the boat is lowered, and the latter swings clear of the ships side. The boat is released from the fall-blocks by pulling on the lines 29, which latter pass through rings 28 on hooks 25 and have one end fast to said blocks. When the boat is again hoisted from the water, the trolley moves in toward the ship as the boat is raised nearly to its proper height by reason of the pull on the section 21 of the tackle-rope. To insure, however, the proper return of the trolley, a stop 26, as a knot or loop, may be formed in the section 20 at a distance from the fixed end of the rope approximately equal to the length of the track-section. The moment the stop strikes the lower block of the tackle the continued pull on the rope-section 21 forces the trolley and the boat in and over the ships rail, whereupon the boat may be rengaged by the lever 15 and returned to its berth.

When not in use, this launching device may be unshipped by simply pulling on the cables 8, and the frames 6, sections 5, and brace 12 turn on their pivots to fold back upon the main track, and so present no projecting portion beyond the side of the ship. In case of emergency it is but the work of an instant to turn these parts back again to have them in position for launching.

Of course it is understood that both ends of the track may be provided with hinged short sections, tackle, &c., so that launching may take place from either side of the vessel. Moreover, by this form of apparatus the space necessary for storing the boats on shipboard is condensed. Also in case the boats cannot be launched from one side of the vessel they mayall be launched with equal facility from the other side. At present in the event of a wreck or other catastrophe, where it may not be possible to man the davits on one side of the vessel, as in case of her lying against a reef, the boats on that side are unavailable, and the remaining boats may be inadequate for the emergency. With my device two men, one at either lever 15, may easily pick up a life-boat, move the boat out to the ships side, and launch it.

If desired, the lower side of the track-rails 4 may be provided with a longitudinal groove 27, in which the longer arm of the lever may be engaged after a boat is picked up, and it may be necessary to hold the boat suspended for a time, or this groove may serve as a track for the end of the lever to slide in. For example, with very heavy boats the operator may lift the boat by the lever, and then by engaging the lever in the groove the boat may.

be pulled or pushed along on the track to its destination.

While this apparatus has been shown and described in connection with a vessel, it is obvious that the same appliance could be operated upon a wharf or wherever it is desired or customary to launch boats and where any permanent projections beyond the edge of the wharf or the like are undesirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a launching apparatus, the combination with track-rails, and supports therefor, of a trolley device mounted upon said rails and including a pivoted elevating member normally disengaged from the boat, and adapted to engage and suspend the boat.

2. In a launching apparatus, the combination with track-rails having hinged sections at the ends, and supports for said rails, of a trolley device to travel on the rails, and a swiveled lifting device normally attached to the trolley, and disengaged from a boat and adapted to engage and elevate the boat and suspend it, substantially as described.

3. In a boat-launching apparatus, the combination of overhead tracks, track-sections on the end of said tracks, means by which said sections are supported at their outer ends so that said sections may lie continuous with the tracks, boat-supporting trolley-sheaves movable on said tracks and sections, and provided with a lever normally disengaged from the boat and adapted to engage and transport the latter, and means by which said sections may be folded back when not in use.

4. In a boat-launching apparatus, the combination with horizontal tracks and movable end extensions thereof, of trolley-sheaves movable on said tracks, a lever swiveled on each of said track-sheaves, said lever having a shorter hook-arm, and a longer purchasearm.

5. In a boat-launching apparatus, the combination of two tracks supported above the surface, pivoted end extensions of said tracks, frames pivoted above the tracks and connected to the outer end of said track-extensions, trolleys movable on said tracks and extensions and means by which the latter and their supports may be folded back when not in use.

6. In a boat-launching apparatus, the combination of two horizontal track-rails, mov

able track-sections on the ends of said rails, section-supports above said rails adapted to turn in unison with said sections, boat trolley carriers upon said rails, carriers upon the sections and means whereby a boat may be shifted from the carriers on the track to the carriers on the sections.

7. In a boat-launching apparatus, the combination of horizontal track-rails, trolley-carriers on said rails, pivoted extensions on the ends of said rails, means for supporting the ends of said extensions, trolley-sheaves on the latter and a fall carried by said sheaves having one end made fast to the outer ends of said extensions.

8. In a boat-launching apparatus,the combination of parallel trolley-Ways separated a distance approximately the length of the boat In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 30 hand.

JAMES W. BEDFORI).

Witnesses:

S. 1;. NOURSE, JEssIE O. BRoDrn'. 

